Myanmar president Thein Sein decides not to run in a parliamentary election scheduled for November 8, a senior official from his office says, meaning he will not be eligible for a second term as head of state.

Russian police on Tuesday raided the offices of election monitor Golos as well as the homes of its employees, a lawyer for the group said, amid an ever-increasing crackdown on independent voices in the country.

The Gympie Regional Council in southern Queensland has written to the State Government and the Electoral Commission of Queensland seeking clemency for residents accused of not voting in recent elections.

There will be a four-way contest for the seat of Indi, in north-east Victoria, at the next federal election, after the Nationals announced they will run a candidate against the Liberal Party, Labor and the independent who holds the seat, Cathy McGowan.